Word: gallicly
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Heart of a Man, Novelist Simenon poses a standard fictional question: What does a man think, feel, and do when suddenly forced to face the imminent reality of death? Unfortunately, the answer in this case tends to dribble away in leaky flashback reveries with seamy Gallic overtones...
...charming, is perfectly cast as a fluttery court neophyte, aglow with soulful love for Rudolph. Actor Marais, playing the moody, princely rake, sizes her up as a pushover, deigns to use her for passing pleasure. They learn each other's true motives in an intimate sequence brimming with Gallic candor and style, and as they manage to reconcile their conflicting emotions, their scenes blossom into a gauzy mood of idyllic romance...
This, of course, is more or less a Gallic rehash of "Brief Encounter," a movie that was effective in its plain, believable, and studiously underplayed plot. "L'Affaire" on the other hand, relies on all sorts of accidents and coincidence to push along its story line, and is not believable at all. Both movies sell the same moral: adultery can be fun but there's no place like home. With a quick flick of its subtitles "L'Affaire" could just as easily prove the converse...
...spite of the excellence of the acting, top honors must go to the script. It wanders from light comedy to near-tragedy a little too easily for comfort, but it handles both moods well. Especially adept is the dialogue, which consists mainly to flip but meaningful Gallic sentiments on life and love...
Leading the Gallic pack are Orpheus and Ways of Love. The latter is a trilogy involving three directors, Marcel Pagnol, Renoir, and the Italian Roberto Ressellinl; Anna Magnani contributes. At the Paris (58th off Fifth...